What itís used for: Producing batteries, ammunition, metal product and X-ray shields. Once was used commonly in paints and ceramic products.

Health effects: Can affect almost every system in the body. Long-term can result in decreased brain function; can cause weakness in fingers, wrists or ankles. Also can cause increases in blood pressure and anemia. Exposure to high levels cans severely damage the brain and kidneys. Can cause miscarriages in pregnant women.

What itís used for: Making paints, fingernail polish, lacquers, adhesives and rubber. Also used in leather tanning.

Health effects: Low to moderate levels can cause tiredness, confusion, weakness, memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite and hearing and color vision loss. Inhaling high levels can cause unconsciousness or death and may also affect kidney function.

Trichloroethylene -- 852

What itís used for: Ingredient in adhesives, typewriter correction fluids and spot removers.

What itís used for: Once used as an anesthetic, now used to make other chemicals.

Health effects: Inhaling it over a short period of time can cause dizziness, fatigue and headache. Breathing high levels for long periods of time may cause liver and kidney damage. Skin contact can cause sores. May also be a carcinogen.

Mercury -- 714

What itís used for: Producing chlorine gas and caustic soda, also used in thermometers, dental fillings and batteries.

Health effects: Exposure to high levels can permanently damage the brain, kidneys and developing fetus. Effects on brain can result in irritability, shyness, tremors, changes in vision or hearing and memory problems. May cause cancer.

Naphthalene -- 687

What itís used for: Ingredient in mothballs, moth flakes and toilet deodorant blocks.

Health effects: Can damage or destroy red blood cells, causing anemia. Exposure to large amounts may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blood in urine and yellow color to the skin. May cause cancer.

Health effects: Breathing high levels can cause dizziness and sleepiness as well as loss of consciousness and death. Long-term exposure to lower levels can develop nerve and liver damage as well as changes in blood circulation. Can cause cancer.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons -- 600

What itís used for:† Byproducts of burning coal, oil and gas, garbage and other substances.

Health effects: Can cause cancer.

Page 3 of 4 - Acetone -- 572

What itís used for: Manufacturing plastic, fibers, drugs and other chemicals.

Health effects: Moderate exposure can result in eye and respiratory irritation and dizziness. High exposure may cause confusion, shortening of menstrual cycle, increased pulse rate and loss of consciousness.

Dichloroethane -- 570

What itís used for: Producing vinyl products, furniture and automobile upholstery. Also used to remove lead from gasoline.

Health effects: Ingesting or inhaling large amounts can cause nervous system disorders, liver and kidney disease and lung effects. May cause cancer.

Dichloroethene -- 515

What itís used for: Manufacturing plastics like food wrap and packaging material. Also makes flame-retardant coatings for fiber and carpet backings, and found in coatings for piping and steel.

What itís used for: Ingredient in paints and coatings as well as glues and cleaning agents.

Health effects: Low exposure can irritate nose, throat, skin and eyes. Cannot cause death on its own, but if it is breathed with other chemicals, 2-Butanone can increase the amount of damage that occurs.

Health effects:† Exposure to high levels for a short time harms brain and heart and can cause convulsions, coma and death. Inhaling low levels over a period of years can cause breathing difficulties, chest pain, vomiting, blood changes, headaches and enlargement of the thyroid gland.

DDT, DDE, DDD -- 441

What itís used for: Similar chemicals used as pesticides.

Health effects: Swallowing large amounts can cause tremors and seizures. Women with large amounts of exposure over time can be unable to breastfeed babies or can have an increased chance of delivering premature babies. May cause cancer.

Carbon tetrachloride -- 425

What itís used for: Producing refrigeration fluid and propellants for aerosol cans. Also used as a pesticide, cleaning fluid and degreasing agent. Most uses now banned.

Health effects: High exposure can cause liver, kidney and central nervous system (including the brain) damage. Can also cause comas and death. Effects are most severe in people who drink large amounts of alcohol. May cause cancer.

Pentachlorophenol -- 313

Page 4 of 4 - What itís used for: Used as a pesticide and wood preservative. No longer available to the general public but still used by industry.

Health effects: High levels of exposure can cause fever, sweating and difficulty breathing. Body temperature can increase to dangerous levels causing injury to various organs and even death. Chronic exposure can cause liver and immune system damage. Can cause cancer.

Aldrin/Dieldrin -- 287/207

What itís used for: Insecticides, now banned.

Health effects: Ingestion can result in convulsions and death. Moderate levels of air exposure can result in headaches, dizziness, vomiting and uncontrolled muscle movements. May cause cancer.

Chlordane --171

What itís used for: All uses now banned. Once was used as a pesticide.